Iron & Wine is the recording name of Sam Beam, a singer-songwriter from Florida.

His first album The Creek Drank the Cradle was released in 2002 and Beam wrote and performed every track on it. His beautiful music justifies the inevitable comparisons with gentle fellow folk tunesmiths Nick Drake and Elliott Smith.

The second album, 2004's Our Endless Numbered Days, resulted in a more polished sound and this time he used other musicians help him record it. By the Woman King EP in 2005 he began to incorporate electric guitars.

A second EP from 2005 was In the Reins and was a collaboration with Calexico and, although he retained sole writing credits, the flavour of Calexico creates a good mix.

Third album The Shepherd's Dog was released in 2007 to further critical acclaim.